Maccarone, a two-time Italian international, will be 38 by the time the new A-League season begins but is coming off a reasonably strong Serie A campaign for Empoli, scoring five goals in 28 games.

The experienced forward fits the bill for the Roar neatly and also shapes as a mentor for rising teenage talent Nick D'Agostino, who is highly rated by the club and will play an increased role in the first team after Maclaren's move to Germany.

Nicknamed "Big Mac" Maccarone has played his entire career in Italy, save for five-seasons with Middlesbrough in the Premier League, where he became a cult hero.

He scored more than 100 goals across three stints with Empoli, while also representing AC Milan, Sampdoria, Palermo and Parma in his 20-year professional career.